Data breaches have exposed the names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of millions of Americans. With that information, a criminal can try to open credit cards, loans, or phone accounts in your name. One of the most effective defenses is also free: a credit freeze. Learning how to freeze your credit takes about 15 minutes per bureau, and once it is done, most new creditors cannot see your credit report, which makes it much harder for an identity thief to open accounts as you. This guide explains how freezes work, how to place and lift them, and what they do and do not protect.
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, restricts access to your credit report at a credit bureau. Because most lenders check a credit report before approving a new account, a freeze stops most new-account fraud before it starts.
Important facts:
- It is free. Federal law, under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, requires the nationwide bureaus to place and lift freezes at no cost.
- It does not affect your credit score. Your score keeps updating normally.
- It does not affect your existing accounts. You can keep using your current credit cards and loans.
- It lasts until you remove it. There is no expiration date.
- You can lift it temporarily when you need to apply for credit.
Federal law also lets parents and guardians freeze the credit of children under 16, and guardians can freeze on behalf of incapacitated adults.
Why you must freeze at all three bureaus
The three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, operate separately. A lender might check any one of them, so a freeze at only one bureau leaves gaps. To be protected, place a freeze with each of the three.
You can freeze online, by phone, or by mail. Online is fastest. Each bureau will ask you to create an account or verify your identity, and some provide a PIN or require a login to lift the freeze later.
| Bureau | How to freeze | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Equifax | Online account, phone, or mail | Account login |
| Experian | Online account, phone, or mail | Account login or PIN |
| TransUnion | Online account, phone, or mail | Account login |
Go directly to each bureau’s official website rather than clicking links in emails or ads. The Federal Trade Commission’s consumer site also lists official contact options.
Step-by-step: how to freeze your credit
- Gather your information. You will need your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and possibly previous addresses.
- Visit each bureau’s freeze page and choose the security freeze option, not a paid locking or monitoring product. Bureaus may promote paid services; you do not need them for a freeze.
- Verify your identity. You may be asked questions about past addresses or loans.
- Create secure login credentials. Use a unique, strong password and turn on multi-factor authentication if available. Store it in a password manager.
- Confirm the freeze. Save the confirmation for your records.
- Repeat for the other two bureaus.
When you request a freeze online or by phone, the bureau must place it within one business day. Requests by mail must be processed within three business days of receipt.
Consider freezing other consumer reporting agencies
Some fraud uses specialty databases. Optional freezes you might consider include:
- ChexSystems, used by many banks to screen new checking and savings accounts
- National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), used by some phone, cable, and utility providers
- Innovis, sometimes called the fourth credit bureau
These are optional, but they can add protection against fraudulent bank, phone, or utility accounts.
How to lift a credit freeze
When you apply for a mortgage, car loan, credit card, apartment, or sometimes a new job, the company may need to check your credit. Before you apply:
- Ask which bureau the company uses. If they know, you only need to lift that one.
- Log in to the bureau account and choose a temporary lift for a specific date range, or remove the freeze entirely.
- Apply for credit during the window.
- Let the freeze resume automatically at the end of the window, or refreeze manually.
Online or phone requests to lift a freeze must be completed within one hour. A temporary lift is often the safest option because the protection returns on its own.
Credit freeze vs fraud alert vs credit lock
| Tool | Cost | What it does | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | Free | Blocks most access to your credit report for new credit | Until you lift it |
| Fraud alert | Free | Tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity | 1 year (initial) or 7 years (extended, for identity theft victims) |
| Credit lock | Sometimes paid | Similar to a freeze but governed by a company agreement, not federal freeze law | As long as you subscribe |
When comparing a credit freeze vs fraud alert, the freeze is stronger because it blocks access, while a fraud alert only asks lenders to verify identity. You place a fraud alert with one bureau, and that bureau must notify the other two. Many identity theft victims use both: an extended fraud alert and freezes at all three bureaus.
What a freeze does not do
A freeze is powerful, but it is not complete identity theft protection. It does not:
- Stop fraudulent charges on your existing credit cards
- Prevent tax identity theft, in which someone files a return using your Social Security number
- Block medical identity theft or misuse of your health insurance
- Prevent government benefits fraud
- Stop someone from accessing your bank accounts with stolen login information
- Prevent access by your existing creditors, debt collectors, or certain government agencies, which can still view your report under the law
Additional steps for stronger protection
- Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN. The IRS offers an IP PIN to any taxpayer who can verify their identity. It prevents someone else from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number.
- Review your credit reports regularly. You can get free reports from each bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com. A freeze does not stop you from checking your own report.
- Turn on account alerts for your bank and card accounts so you see transactions in real time.
- Use multi-factor authentication on financial and email accounts.
- Add a carrier PIN or port-out protection to your mobile phone account to reduce the risk of SIM swap fraud.
- Review Social Security statements through your my Social Security account at SSA.gov.
- Shred sensitive documents and be cautious with unsolicited calls, texts, and emails asking for personal information.
If your identity has already been stolen
If you discover accounts you did not open, act quickly:
- Report it at IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s official site, which creates a personalized recovery plan and an Identity Theft Report.
- Contact the fraud departments of the companies where accounts were opened and ask them to close the accounts.
- Place freezes at all three bureaus and consider an extended fraud alert.
- Dispute fraudulent items on your credit reports. Identity theft victims have rights to block fraudulent information under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- File a police report if a creditor requires it or if you know the thief.
- Contact the IRS if you suspect tax-related identity theft.
Who should freeze their credit?
Almost anyone who is not planning to apply for new credit in the near future can benefit. It is especially worth considering if:
- Your information was exposed in a data breach
- You have been a victim of identity theft
- You are an older adult or caregiver for one
- You want to protect a child’s credit file before they are old enough to use it
If you plan to apply for credit frequently, a freeze is still useful; you just need to lift it temporarily each time.
Related reading: How to Improve Your Credit Score: A Practical Step-by-Step Plan and Debt Consolidation Loan: How It Works and When It Makes Sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does freezing my credit hurt my credit score?
No. A credit freeze does not affect your score or your ability to use existing accounts.
How much does a credit freeze cost?
Nothing. The nationwide credit bureaus must freeze and unfreeze your credit for free under federal law.
How long does it take to lift a freeze?
If you request it online or by phone, the bureau must lift it within one hour. Mail requests take longer.
Can I still check my own credit report with a freeze?
Yes. You can still get your free credit reports, and existing creditors can continue to review your account.
Should I freeze my child’s credit?
Parents and guardians can request a freeze for children under 16 at no cost. It can prevent fraudsters from using a child’s Social Security number to open accounts, which might otherwise go unnoticed for years.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, medical, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm details with the relevant agency or a licensed professional.
